Metal: barium, calcium, copper, lead, potassium

Question

Flame Color: light green, brick red, blue/green, blue/white, lilac

You are presented with four chemical compounds. Each compound contains a different metal. When the compound is heated in a flame a distinct color is emitted as the electrons are excited and give off different wavelengths of light. Determine the unknown compound based on the data table and photo.

A barium chloride
B calcium chloride
C copper (II) sulphate
D potassium nitrate

The flame color in the photo is bright red but like an orange color the as you go down it had a white spot in the middle but on the edges of the flame it is still bright red but sort of orange then as you go down the white interacts with the white and the bottom then the light blue

Answer 1

To determine the unknown compound based on the flame color observed in the photo, we will match the described flame color with the known metal flame colors.

Here's a reference for flame colors:

• Barium: light green
• Calcium: brick red
• Copper: blue/green
• Lead: blue/white
• Potassium: lilac

From your description, the prominent flame color is "bright red but like an orange color". This aligns most closely with the flame color of calcium, which is known for producing a brick red flame.

Considering other details, such as the mention of a light blue area, it suggests that there might be some mixture with other compounds, but the primary observation that stands out is the bright red/orange color, which predominantly suggests the presence of calcium.

Hence, the unknown compound is likely:

B. Calcium chloride